What Is the ‘Too Many Redirects’ Error?
The “too many redirects” error means your web site has incorrectly configured redirects that create an infinite loop and forestall the web page from loading. Which hurts website positioning and the person expertise as a result of search engines like google and yahoo and customers received’t be capable of entry the web page.
For instance, let’s say URL X redirects to URL Y. Then URL Y redirects again to URL X.
That creates a loop. And the browser retains going backwards and forwards between these two pages till it provides up.
Most browsers will comply with as much as about 20 redirects. If they will’t attain a ultimate web page by then, they cease and present an error as an alternative.
For instance, Chrome says this website redirected too many instances and suggests clearing cookies.
What Causes the ‘Too Many Redirects’ Error?
The “too many redirects” error is attributable to the browser being caught in a loop that retains moving into circles with out reaching a ultimate web page.
Dan Taylor, Companion & Head of Technical website positioning at SALT.company, says the commonest trigger he sees is cookie or cache mismanagement.
“From my expertise, it’s normally all the way down to cache or cookie points—issues like session affinity, session management, or incorrect cache management headers. Ten years in the past, when HTTPS adoption was extra the ‘hype,’ modifications within the HTTP/HTTPS protocol induced conflicts, however that’s a lot much less widespread now.”
Listed below are another widespread causes behind redirect loops:
- Outdated server cache: Your server may nonetheless be displaying an previous model of your website that features damaged redirect directions
- Content material supply community (CDN) cache points: Your CDN is likely to be serving outdated variations of your website with incorrect redirect guidelines
- Third-party instruments or plugins: If two instruments (like a firewall and a plugin) are attempting to deal with redirects in several methods, they will create a battle
Find out how to Verify Your Web site for ‘Too Many Redirects’ Errors
You possibly can test for the ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error manually by visiting your website in several browsers.
Dan says his first step is to test redirect guidelines immediately:
“I’ll begin by reviewing the .htaccess or server configuration recordsdata to ensure there aren’t any conflicting or incorrect redirect guidelines in place.”
He then checks that redirects between HTTP and HTTPS pages and www and non-www pages are arrange correctly and persistently.
You possibly can crawl your website for redirect points attributable to misconfigured guidelines with Semrush’s Web site Audit instrument:
Open the instrument and comply with the prompts to configure your challenge.
As soon as the audit is finished, go to the “Points” tab and search “redirect.”
In case your web site has redirect loops (and/or chains), you’ll see the “# redirect chains and loops” error.
Click on on it to see the record of affected URLs.
Simply know that this particularly uncovers loops ensuing from incorrect redirect guidelines.
Different points can get in the best way as properly. So let’s go over the right way to repair them.
8 Methods to Repair the ‘Too Many Redirects’ Error
1. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Clearing your cache and cookies removes outdated knowledge that is likely to be inflicting your browser to load an previous redirect path.
Dan says he at all times consists of this step when debugging redirect loops:
“I’ll clear the cache and cookies in my browser to rule out any saved redirect knowledge that is likely to be inflicting the loop.”
It is a good place to start out when you’re seeing the error your self, however others aren’t. Or if one person reviews it, however nobody else is affected.
Listed below are the steps to do that in several browsers:
Google Chrome
Click on the three dots within the prime proper nook and choose “Settings.”
Navigate to “Privateness and safety” and click on “Delete shopping knowledge.”
Choose each the checkboxes subsequent to “Cookies and different website knowledge” and “Cached photographs and recordsdata.” You possibly can uncheck the field subsequent to “Searching historical past.”
Set the time vary to “All time.” And click on “Delete knowledge.”
Firefox
Click on the menu button (three traces) within the prime proper and choose “Settings.”
Go to “Privateness & Safety,” scroll to the “Cookies and Web site Information” part, and click on “Clear Information…”
Choose the checkboxes subsequent to “Cookies and website knowledge” and “Non permanent cached recordsdata and pages.” You possibly can depart different choices unchecked.
Select “The whole lot” because the timeframe. Then click on “Clear.”
Safari
Click on the “Safari” tab within the prime menu, then choose “Settings…”
Go to the “Superior” tab and allow “Present options for net builders.”
Click on the brand new “Develop” tab that seems within the prime menu and select “Empty Caches.”
To clear cookies, go to the settings once more.
Go to the “Privateness” tab and click on “Handle Web site Information…”
Click on “Take away All” and make sure by clicking “Take away Now” when prompted.
Microsoft Edge
Click on the three dots within the nook and select “Settings.”
Go to “Privateness, search, and companies” within the sidebar. Click on “Clear shopping knowledge.”
Choose the checkboxes subsequent to “Cookies and different website knowledge” and “Cached photographs and recordsdata.” You possibly can depart different containers unchecked.
Choose “All time” because the time vary. Click on “Clear now.”
2. Clear Your Web site Cache from the CMS
Clearing your web site cache removes outdated redirect directions that your content material administration system (CMS) or plugins should still be serving.
When you’re utilizing WordPress, you will have a caching plugin like WP Tremendous Cache put in.
To clear the cache utilizing this plugin, go to your WordPress dashboard, click on “Settings” within the left menu, and choose “WP Tremendous Cache” within the submenu.
Scroll down to seek out the “Delete Cached Pages” part and click on the “Delete Cache” button.
When you’re utilizing a unique CMS, comply with the steps within the acceptable assist documentation:
3. Clear Cached Information from Your Server
Clearing your server cache ensures your server isn’t utilizing outdated recordsdata which have redirect errors.
Most internet hosting suppliers provide instruments to clear the server cache by their management panels.
Let’s say you’re utilizing Kinsta to host a WordPress web site.
Go to your dashboard, click on “WordPress websites,” and choose the checkbox subsequent to your website.
Click on the “Actions” button within the prime proper nook and select “Clear cache.”
Choose the checkbox subsequent to “Clear server cache” and click on “Clear cache.”
Different internet hosting suppliers even have built-in cache-related instruments. When you’re having bother, attain out to your supplier’s assist group for assist.
4. Clear Outdated Redirects from Your CDN
A content material supply community (CDN) hastens your website by saving copies of it somewhere else world wide. But when these copies have previous redirect settings, they will maintain inflicting the loop.
To illustrate you utilize Cloudflare as your CDN.
Go to your Cloudflare dashboard, select your account and your website, click on “Caching” within the left menu, and choose “Configuration.”
Click on “Purge The whole lot.”
For different CDNs, comply with the suitable documentation:
5. Verify for HTTPS-Associated Issues
Ensuring you might have a correctly carried out SSL certificates (which verifies your website’s id and lets you use HTTPS) and that you simply aren’t attempting to power HTTPS with out one can repair redirect loops.
Use an SSL checker like SSL Shopper to substantiate your certificates is legitimate and put in accurately.
If there’s an issue, ask your internet hosting supplier for assist.
You too can discover HTTPS points utilizing Semrush’s Web site Audit instrument.
Go to your “Overview” report, discover the HTTPS part, and click on “View particulars.”
Additional studying: Find out how to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS (4 Strategies)
6. Overview and Repair Redirect Guidelines
Conflicting redirect guidelines can create loops that set off ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error.
You possibly can see these loops in your Web site Audit Points report:
To repair the problem, replace or take away the conflicting redirect guidelines utilizing no matter instrument or platform you used to set them up.
This may very well be a plugin, your CMS settings, or a server config file.
For instance, when you’re utilizing WordPress with the Redirection plugin, you possibly can view all lively redirect guidelines within the plugin’s dashboard.
Edit or delete any rule inflicting loops.
When you’re on an Apache server, your redirect guidelines may reside in a file referred to as .htaccess.
You possibly can reset this file to take away problematic guidelines.
However solely do that when you’re assured modifying server recordsdata or have assist from a developer.
To reset it, entry your web site recordsdata by your internet hosting supplier’s File Supervisor or join utilizing FTP.
Let’s say you are utilizing Bluehost. Go to your cPanel and click on “File Supervisor.”
Navigate to your web site’s root listing (normally named “public_html,” “www,” or “htdocs”).
Discover the .htaccess file
Earlier than modifying, obtain a replica to again it up. Proper-click the file and select “Obtain.”
Then, right-click on the .htaccess file once more and choose “Edit.”
Substitute your entire content material with this default WordPress .htaccess configuration:
# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress
Save your modifications and test if the redirect error is resolved.
In case your website makes use of Nginx or one other server kind, contact your internet hosting supplier or developer for assist.
7. Verify URL Settings in Your CMS
Redirect loops can occur when your CMS makes use of two barely completely different variations of your website’s URL.
When you use WordPress, go to “Settings” > “Normal.”
Take a look at the “WordPress Deal with (URL)” and “Web site Deal with (URL)” fields. These ought to match.
For instance:
- If one makes use of http:// and the opposite makes use of https://, it will possibly create a loop
- If one consists of “www” and the opposite doesn’t, that mismatch also can set off the error
Replace each fields to match.
When you’re utilizing a unique platform, test their assist documentation for the right way to replace your website’s most important URL.
After updating these settings, save your modifications.
8. Disable or Modify Plugins and Extensions
When you’re utilizing a CMS, considered one of your put in plugins or extensions is likely to be creating the battle.
Deactivate them to seek out which one is likely to be the offender.
In WordPress, go to “Plugins” > “Put in Plugins” and choose the checkbox subsequent to every plugin.
Choose the “Bulk Actions” drop-down, select “Deactivate,” and click on “Apply.” This may flip off all plugins.
If the error disappears, one of many plugins was accountable.
Reactivate your plugins separately. And test your website after every one to seek out the one creating the loop.
You should use an analogous course of when you use one other CMS or web site platform.
As soon as you discover the plugin inflicting the problem, think about switching to an alternate. And let the plugin’s builders know to allow them to examine.
Find out how to Stop ‘Too Many Redirects’ Errors within the Future
You possibly can stop most redirect loops by testing modifications rigorously earlier than pushing them reside.
Dan recommends doing correct QA and evaluation everytime you make deployments that have an effect on URLs, redirects, cookies, or asset supply.
Which suggests reviewing how URLs, redirects, cookies, and asset supply are dealt with after modifications to catch any sudden habits earlier than it causes loops.
How?
- Verify widespread redirect paths manually. After making updates to your website, go to key pages to test that redirects go to the right locations with out bouncing between variations. And check out a number of browsers and units.
- Verify plugins or customized scripts. Make certain these choices aren’t inflicting redirect issues. Some instruments set their very own guidelines, which might by accident create conflicts and result in loops.
- Audit redirects after main website modifications. Issues like redesigns, migrations, or area updates can unintentionally create redirect loops. So, run a full website audit after any main updates utilizing Semrush’s Web site Audit instrument to seek out redirect loops.
You must also do a full technical audit of your website commonly to catch points earlier than they damage your website positioning rankings or natural site visitors.
Run your first audit now.
